Arrow fletching jig setting gauge



April 14, 1959 H. A. BlTzl-:NBURGER ARROW FLETCHING :11G SETTING GAUGE Filed April 22, 1957 Zia-Z United States Patent Oiiice Patent-ed Apr. 14, 1959 ARROW FLETCHING JIG SETTING GAUGE Henry A. Btzenburger, Rivera, Calif.

Application April 22, 1957, Serial No. 654,263

Claims. (Cl. 33-180) This invention nds general utility in the eld of arrow etching and relates specifically to a jig mechanism that is employed to set, align and/or change the position of components of a fletching jig or series thereof.

In applying feathers or vanes (etching) to rearward end portions of arrow shafts for precise ight characteristics of the arrow, it is important that the lletching be applied in an accurate manner and that all arrows in one group be similar in order that the archer may obtain repeatable Hight characteristics from one arrow to another. Accordingly, the manner of applying the ietching, the angle thereof relative to the axis of the arrow shaft and the exact position longitudinally of the shaft are important factors in this connection. When arrows are manufactured on a production basis, it is also common to employ a plurality of fletching jigs often mounted on a turntable and precise identical setting of each of the jigs is a necessity.

When employing feathers as a fletching material, such feathers are considered as right or left hand, depending upon the side of the quill from which they are obtained. In view of this fact, fletching jig mechanisms are preferably adjustable in order to accommodate right or left hand feathers and to determine the amount of angular displacement of the feather relative to the arrow shaft axis.

The device of this invention, therefore, relates to a gauge structure that is intended for use with etching jigs employing a permanent magnet that is used to retain and support a feather or vane clamp in a precise location relative to the arrow shaft. A fietching jig of this type is disclosed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 654,262, filed April 22, 1957. This particular type of jig is shown in this application in conjunction with the present arrow fletching jig setting gauge.

It is one important object of this invention to provide l a novel arrow fletching jig setting gauge for precisely aligning components of an arrow fletching jig.

It is another important object of the invention to provide a novel arrow fletching jig setting gauge having adjustable features of novelty enabling use thereof with various types of fletching of a right or left hand nature.

Still another important object of the invention is to provide a novel fletching jig setting gauge that is simple in construction, easy to use and inexpensive in manufacture and sale.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel fletching jig setting gauge'having novel means for associating a gauging surface relative to components of an arrow fletching jig.

Other and further important objects of this invention will become apparent from the disclosures in the following detailed specification, appended claims and accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the present arrow etching jig setting gauge and is shown in conjunction with an arrow fletching jig.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the present gauge;

Fig. 3 is another side elevational View of the gauge showing the side opposite from that shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse sectional View through a portion of the present gauge, as taken substantially as 5 indicated by line 4 4, Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged transverse section view through another portion of the present gauge, as taken substantially as indicated by line 5-5, Fig. 2.

With reference to the drawing, the present setting gauge is indicated generally at 10. In Fig. 1, the gauge 10 is shown in cooperative position with an arrow fletching jig indicated generally at 11. The jig 11 comprises a movable head H that is mounted on a frame F and adjustably secured thereto by means of thumb screws S disposed through suitable slots in the head and engaging the frame F. The frame F has an arm A from which a tab T is disposed and which is provided with a notch N. Another end of the frame F has a bracket B in which an indexing member I is rotatably positioned, the indexing member having a recess in one end thereof in which a transverse web W is disposed. The head H of the jig 11 is adapted to support a permanent magnet M, the free ends of which are disposed from the head H and the faces of which are coextensive with each other. By loosening the screws S, the head H is freely movable with respect to the frame F and by loosening only one of the screws S and movement of a lever L, precise movement of the head H may be accomplished.

The gauge 10 comprises an elongated shaft 12 that has one end 13 contoured and provided with a transverse notch 14 (Fig. 2). An elongated notch 15 is provided in one lateral side of the shaft 12 and a base plate 16 is disposed in this notch 15 and retained therein by means of screws 17 which extend through the shaft 12 and V` threadably engage the base plate 16.

The plate 16 has a planar surface 18 on which the arm 20 is adjustably positioned. The arm 20 is also planar in general configuration and is adjustably retained and mounted on the surface 18 of the plate 16 by means of a pair of thumb screws 21 and 22 which extend through slots 23 and 24, respectively, in the arm 20 and threadably engage the plate 16. One of the longitudinal ends of the arm 20 is provided with a series of graduations that are adapted for cooperation with indices on the plate v16. The other of the longitudinal ends of the arm 20 is provided with an index line 27 that is adapted for cooperation with indices 28 on the plate 16 for a purpose to be hereinafter more fully described.

The arm 20 serves to support a backing member 30 that is disposed along one edge of the arm arranged and substantially normal thereto. The backing member 30 may be secured to the arm 20 as by welding or the like or may be formed integrally therewith and has a planar outer surface 31. The backing member 30 has a generally rectangular spacer member 32 mounted on the surface 31 the rivets 33, will be attracted to the faces of the permanent magnet M.

In use of the present setting gauge, the arm 20 is first positioned by loosening the screws 21 and 22 and alignment of the ends of the arm with the indices 26 and 28. It is to be noted that both of the indices 26 and 28 are provided with a centerline and with arcuate lines which indicate the general setting direction from a neutral when employing right or left hand types of etching. When the desired setting of the arm 20 is accomplished, the thumb screws 21 and 22 are tightened. Thereafter, the screws S of the jig 11 are also loosened and the contoured end 13 of the shaft 12 is inserted within the recess in the indexing member I, with the notch 14 being placed over the web W. The opposite end of the shaft 12 is permitted to rest in the notch N of the tab T whereby to tix the gauge relative to the frame F of the jig 11. With the screws S being loosened, the head H will thereby move under the force of the permanent magnet M whereby to bring the faces of the permanent magnet M into contact with the surface 35 of the rivets 33. Thereafter the screws S may be tightened and the setting gauge removed from the jig 11 leaving the jig with a proper setting of the head H. The arrow shaft is thereafter placed in the position formerly occupied by the shaft 12 and a vane holding clamp positioned in contact with the faces of the permanent magnet M to align an edge of a vane carried thereby with the arrow shaft.

It may thus be seen that many fietching jigs of the type shown at 11 may be accurately set through use of the present gauge and that identical etching may be applied to numerous arrow shafts through use of the jigs 11. Extreme accuracy is thus gained and repeatable flight characteristics from one arrow to another may thereby be expected. The extreme simplicity of the present gauge enables inexpensive manufacture thereof and use by either manufacturers of commercial arrows or [by individuals who may have only a single fletching jig. By retaining the gauge in one set position, an individual may thereafter set or gauge the position of his jig for use thereafter at one time or another.

Having thus described the invention and the present preferred embodiment thereof, it is desired to emphasize the fact that many modifications may `be resorted to in a manner limited only by a just interpretation of the following claims.

I claim:

1. kIn a setting gauge for arrow etching jigs having magnetic vane holding means, the combination of: an elongated shaft adapted for fixed disposition in said jig, in a position normally occupied by an arrow shaft therein; a support carried by said shaft; an arm movably disposed on `said support; thumb screw and slot means for locking said arm relative to said support; and a gauging member carried by said arm, said gauging member having a gauging surface adapted for cooperation with said magnetic holding means of said etching jig, whereby to permit disposition of magnetic surfaces of said holding means in a predetermined plane relative to an axis of said elongated shaft, atleast a portion only of said gauging member being of permeable material.

2. In a setting gauge for arrow fletching jigs having magnetic vane holding means, the combination of: an elongated shaft adapted for fixed disposition in said jig in a position normally occupied by an arrow shaft therein; a support carried by said shaft; an arm movably disposed on said support; thumb screw and slot means for locking said arm relative to said support; and a gauging member carried by said arm and disposed substantially normal thereto, said gauging member having a gauging surface disposed parallel to said gauging member and adapted for cooperation with said magnetic holding means of said etching jig, whereby to permit disposition of magnetic surfaces of said holding means in a predetermined plane relative to an axis of said elongated shaft, at least a portion only of said gauging member being 0f permeable material.

3. In a setting gauge for arrow fletching jigs having magnetic vane holding means, the combination of: an

elongated shaft adapted for fixed disposition in said jig in a position normally occupied by an arrow shaft therein; a support carried by said shaft; an arm movably disposed on said support; thumb screw and slot means for locking said arm relative to said support, there lbeing cooperating setting indicia on said arm and said support; and a gauging member carried by said arm and disposed substantially normal thereto, said gauging member having a gauging surface disposed parallel to said gauging member and adapted for cooperation with said magnetic holding means of said lletching jig, whereby to permit disposition of magnetic surfaces of said holding means in a predetermined plane relative to an axis of said elongated shaft, at least a portion only of said gauging member being of permeable material.

4. A setting gauge for arrow shaft fletching jigs of the type having an adjustable magnetic vane holding means comprising, in combination: an elongated shaft having a bifurcated contoured end, said shaft being adapted for disposition in said jig in a position normally occupied by an arrow shaft to which fletching is to be aflixed; a plate carried by said shaft and having a planar surface; an arm positioned on said surface, said arm having lateral slots therein adjacent opposite ends thereof; thumb screws disposed through said slots and threadably engaging said plate whereby to lock said arm in one position or another to said plate, there being cooperating arm setting indicia on both ends of said arm and said plate; a backing member disposed integrally along yone edge of said arm and having a planar surface positioned substantially normal to said arm; a spaced member disposed on said surface of said backing member; and a pair of rivets disposed through said spacer and said backing member, said rivets having end surfaces disposed in a common plane and adapted for cooperation with surfaces of said magnetic vane holding means of said jig, whereby to permit disposition of said holding means surfaces in a predetermined plane relative to an axis of said elongated shaft.

5. A setting gauge for arrow shaft etching jigs of the type having an adjustable magnetic vane holding means comprising, in combination: an elongated shaft having a bifurcated contoured end, said shaft being adapted for disposition in said jig in a position normally occupied by an arrow shaft to which fletching is to be affixed; a plate carried by said shaft and having a planar surface; an ann positioned on said surface, said arm having lateral slots therein adjacent opposite ends thereof; thumb screws disposed through said slots and threadably engaging said plate whereby to lock said arm in one position or another to said plate, `there being cooperating arm setting indicia on both ends of said arm and said plate; a backing member disposed integrally along one edge of said arm and having a planar surface substantially normal to said arm; a spacer member disposed on said surface of said backing member; and a pair of rivets disposed through said spacer and said backing member, said rivets being permeable material, other elements of said setting gauge being of nonpermeable material, said rivets having end surfaces disposed in a common plane and adapted for cooperation with surfaces of said magnetic vane holding means of said jig, whereby to permit disposition of said holding means surfaces in a predetermined plane relative to an axis of said elongated shaft.

References Cited in the ijle of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,648,376 Blodgett Nov. 8, 1927 1,794,051 'Allen Feb. 24, 1931 2,337,080 Bitzenburger Dec. 3l, 1943 2,419,184 Young Apr. l5, 1947 2,815,582l Karstens Dec. l0, 1957 

